Today, we remember the tragic events of 9/11, twenty-four years ago. But this year, our remembrance comes in the shadow of what happened just yesterday: Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative voice, was shot and killed while speaking at an event in Utah.
I wish we could stop these tragedies. It is unimaginable how often the headlines are filled with reckless acts of evil. But we know the truth—there is an enemy in this world who seeks only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). His goal is to silence believers—either by taking them out of this life or by pressuring them to compromise their convictions and walk away from their faith.
Do not give the enemy any ground. He will deceive people into unthinkable actions, but our call is to stand firm against him (Ephesians 6:13).
This is the time for the Church to rise up like never before. Pray for revival in America. Pray for unity to take root in this land. Pray for a miraculous turning of hearts back to the Lord. We need Jesus now more than ever.
So what does this mean for you today?
Pray that Charlie Kirk’s family be surrounded by God’s peace and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Pray for God’s protection over our leaders and over every voice declaring the Gospel and the Judeo-Christian ethic.
Pray for angelic covering over your own family and those closest to you.
And then—live it out. Live by faith. Choose love when the world chooses hate.
Walk in peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Let the Spirit of God govern your life.
Choose to follow Him above all else—
Mac Hammond
Mac and Lynne Hammond are senior pastors of Living Word in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, which they started in 1980. Many outreaches and ministries have launched from Living Word since that time, including Maranatha Christian Academy, a Pre-K through grade 12 school with nearly 900 in attendance, and Living Free Recovery Services, a licensed outpatient treatment program.
Most recently, Mac and Lynne have launched a vision to plant fifty churches across the globe in the next five years. As of August 2024, nine churches have been planted in the Dominican Republic, Ireland, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, and Guatemala with construction underway for seven more churches in El Salvador, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prior to becoming a pastor, Mac was a pilot. He served in the Air Force, served two tours of duty in Southeast Asia, and was honorably discharged in 1970 with the rank of Captain. Between 1970 and 1980, Mac was involved in varying capacities in the general aviation industry, including ownership of a successful air cargo business serving the Midwestern United States. A business acquisition brought the Hammonds to Minneapolis, where they ultimately founded Living Word. Currently, Mac is the host of The Winner’s Way and The Winner’s Minute broadcasts and the author of several internationally distributed books. Mac is broadly acclaimed for his ability to apply the principles of the Bible to practical situations and the challenges of daily living.
